Examination and Communion

Today I was drawn to the exhortation of Paul to the Corinthian believers that they examine themselves as they gathered together for the Lord's Supper, a feast which was supposed to illustrate the love of Christ and unity with one another.  Hearkening back to Jesus who distributed bread and wine to His disciples on the night He was betrayed that symbolised His broken body and blood that would be shed for them, this practice was incorporated into regular meals.  Paul rebuked the Corinthians because of their divisions, exclusion of others and excess in these gatherings where the poor went hungry and others were drunk!

He advised in 1 Corinthians 11:28, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup."  Each person was instructed to examine himself to ensure each one was obedient to Jesus, united in the fear of God, to love one another and repent of sin.  Paul was not erecting an obstacle to fellowship with God or others:  sin is what does that!  Paul encouraged personal examination so people would be discerning of the LORD's body (the church) when they ate of the bread and drank of the cup--not to disqualify themselves due to sin they repented of.  At times in the history of the church well-meaning leaders have taken it upon themselves to examine others and deem them unworthy to partake of communion when there is no one righteous but Christ.  Each person is accountable before God, and thus each one of us in the church ought to examine ourselves.

To refuse to partake of communion because we have sinned is like not coming to Jesus Christ in repentance because we feel we ought to be punished for our sin.  Didn't Jesus provide atonement by His shed blood for the sin of the world in full?  Can we add to His sacrifice?  Is it our feelings of guilt and shame that tore the veil of the Holy of Holies from top to bottom?  To be sure, our sin is a hideous, horrendous thing:  should we add to our sin by resistance to repentance for sin and broken surrender to our Saviour, when He has died so we can live and have fellowship with God and one another today?  The self-examination Paul spoke of was intended to move sinners to repentance that preceded communion, not self-exclusion.  To put ourselves in a self-imposed spiritual "time out" because we have sinned does not seem to take 1 John 1:9 into account for the Christian:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

There is a person who receives communion who desires to be seen by other people to be receiving it, while another does not receive communion because they feel unworthy.  In a fleshly sense, this may be an honourable thing to do.  From a biblical perspective, however, we are all unworthy by the efforts of our flesh to be born again, to have fellowship with God, to be forgiven or receive communion.  In light of the New Covenant Jesus has established in His own blood, we are called to examine ourselves, to repent of sin, and eat of the bread and drink of the cup knowing we are partakers of the Gospel by God's grace.  Psalm 130:3-4 reads, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  Praise the LORD for the new beginnings He provides day by day for the humble soul that repents of sin in the fear of God.

Grace in Adversity

 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."

Daniel 4:37

The almighty God opposes the proud whoever they may be.  King Nebuchadnezzar experienced exactly what James said, that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  When the heart of Nebuchadnezzar was haughty and proud as the king of an empire, God was able to bring him down without a struggle.  For 7 years the king who reveled in his glory and majesty was reduced to behaving like a beast without understanding.  After God brought Nebuchadnezzar low, at the end of his time he humbled himself before God who restored him to his throne.  For him, humiliation was the path to saving faith in God, humility and wisdom.

The psalmist described the proud soul in Psalm 10:4-6:  "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.⁵ His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his enemies, he sneers at them. ⁶ He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity."  The proud man is so full of himself there is no desire to seek God and no room for the consideration of God, His judgments or power.  The Bible is full of examples of proud people saying what will happen (that God prevents from happening) and saying what cannot happen (and God chooses to do that very thing).  One reason why God does this is to bring people to their senses, that they might acknowledge His direct involvement, seek Him and may know Him as their LORD.  God is the LORD over all things, and He is willing to go to great lengths to soften hearts and break the pride of the haughty.

In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the Rabshakeh came from Assyria and spoke proud and boastful words against king Hezekiah and the God of Israel--whom he reduced to be just one of many gods that were powerless to save those who served them.  When Hezekiah sought the LORD for help and deliverance, God promised the proud Assyrians would not shoot an arrow or build a siege mound against Jerusalem, for God would zealously fight for His people.  In one night God routed the Assyrian army in fulfillment of His promise.  In the days of Jeremiah, the situation was reversed:  false prophets claimed Jerusalem would not see war or famine when God ordained the Babylonians to be His instrument of judgment against His proud, self-righteous, idolatrous people.  God said in Jeremiah 14:15:  "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'--'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!"  The things false prophets presumed could never come upon them, God brought with great force to expose their deceit and affirm His truth and power.  The children of Israel came out of 70 years of captivity a people refined and humbled, wiped clean of idolatry.

It is God's grace and mercy that ordains opposition and adversity for proud souls who boast against God.  Left without rebuke or correction, those who walk in pride would not give God a thought.  God shows His power by doing what to us is unbelievable so we might believe in Him and actively rely upon Him--rather than leaning on our own understanding.  Nebuchadnezzar believed he was the greatest and no adversity could come to him, yet God was able to put him down.  He went down on all fours and crawled around for years, but he was not out because God is compassionate and merciful, desiring all people seek Him and be saved.  God opposes the proud because pride opposes God, and He gives grace to the humble.  Not being God, we all have a problem with pride, and the LORD uses adversity to guide us to greater humility and the fear of God.

Joy That Remains

A main theme in the book of Jeremiah is the need of God's people to repent of sin and return to the LORD.  The fact the prophet addressed people of Israel who were in a covenant with God is compelling for all Christians who are partakers of the new covenant in Christ's blood.  I don't know if there is a worse feeling for Christians who know they are in unrepentant sin and harden their hearts against God and His word.  I imagine this is a reason people can be averse to going to church and hearing God's word preached--for lack of contrition for sin and refusal to repent makes them resemble uncomfortable children awaiting punishment.  I would rather be on the other side of discipline, having apologised and embraced parents who affirmed their love for me.  The sting of discipline was quickly over as I went my way walking on air, everything set right again with parents who loved me enough to correct me.

When God brings brokenness for sin and we finally yield to His correction, repentance leads to great rejoicing.  We see this in the book of Nehemiah, for upon hearing the word of God the people wept for their sin.  Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  It is natural for us to want those who do wrong to realise they have done wrong and express sorrow for harm they caused, and we might continue to beat ourselves up for sins committed long ago.  God identifies our sin, not so we would hopelessly wallow in our sinfulness and failure to please God, but so we might repent, be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God and one another in the church.  Jesus has provided atonement for sin by His own blood so sinners can be cleansed of all shame, guilt and offence and be declared righteous by faith in Him.  Sin depresses us, but God is the lifter of our head and sets us on our feet on the solid Rock of Salvation.  No longer is sin a perpetual cause of sorrow, for "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Think about when the prodigal son returned to his father:  he willingly returned and humbled himself before his father, well aware of his shameful conduct and how he wasted his father's goods.  The father did not look upon him with condemnation and gruffly rehearse his vile conduct to shame him:  his father ran, kissed and embraced him!  He rejoiced his son was now found and organised a feast to celebrate his son's return.  The repentance of his son--a change of mind that led him to change his ways and return to his father--was the cause of great rejoicing for the father, son, household and in heaven.  There wasn't any joy for the erring prodigal in the pigpen:  it was in his father's house there was only joy and gladness.  The "strength" the joy of the LORD is a word in Hebrew that means refuge, a fortress and defence.  Secure in God's love for us and joy over us, we rejoice and delight to share His love with others.

Jesus said in John 15:9-12, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and Jesus has spoken to us so His joy may remain in us.  His joy isn't fleeting or fickle, for Jesus gives fullness of joy we can experience that exceeds happiness from what happens.  Knowing we will see Jesus who will never leave or forsake us brings joy no one can take away as Jesus said in John 16:22:  "...you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."  How wonderful is our Saviour Jesus, for He can turn our sorrow into joy that remains.

On God's Side

There is a phrase I hear occasionally, and I have never liked it.  It is a phrase often used to justify what could be called "progressive" yet is often dismissive of other valid perspectives and nothing more than thinly veiled ideology.  I read the city of Sydney has outlawed installation of gas ranges in the CBD and will only allow electric cooktops to avoid "being on the wrong side of history."  This is complete silliness to me, for the vast majority of electricity production in NSW is supplied by coal.  Since natural gas is cleaner burning than coal and produces less carbon dioxide, wouldn't it be more environmentally conscious to cook with natural gas rather than electricity generated primarily by burning coal?  Should we try to impress future generations and alienate those who cook with gas as careless for the environment or clueless today?  Do we look down upon those in previous generations who cooked their food over word or charcoal?  Those who want to avoid being "on the wrong side of history" very well might be by pushing their overweening agenda.

We live in a world where pleasing others is highly incentivised.  There isn't so much a payoff for being politically correct and progressive, but there can be a high price for sharing unpopular personal views or convictions.  Our desire to be accepted and respected, to be viewed as an ally rather than an enemy, provides selfish motivation to "go with the flow"--or to at least put on a good show for others to see.  I would put myself in the category of a natural "people pleaser," to want others to think well of me.  As followers of Jesus, we must decide if we will work to please people or choose to please God who loves and saves us.  Our motivation after coming to Christ is to change completely as Paul wrote in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  We ought to put forth effort to please God above all, for a "Well done!" from God forever is better than the fickle approval of man.

Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:34-38:  "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; ³⁶ and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."  To side with Jesus as being the Messiah and God in human flesh and to love Him set people opposite those who castigated Jesus as a demon-possessed disturber of the peace.  To follow Christ meant choosing His way of living, to value pleasing Him over ourselves, our parents or friends; to embrace dying to self for His sake rather than counting our lives precious to us and trying to spare ourselves suffering.  Being on the "right" or "wrong side of history" does not factor into this equation, for it is what God says that matters most.

When Jehu rode into Samaria, painted Jezebel looked down upon Jehu (literally and figuratively) and chided him for doing exactly what God commanded him to do:  to bring judgment upon Ahab's wicked house.  Jehu called out to the eunuchs who attended to the queen, "Who is on my side?  Who?"  The eunuchs he addressed needed to decide who they would please:  Queen Jezebel or Jehu who had been anointed king by God.  Their choice was required to be public and immediate, for he commanded them in 2 Kings 9:33:  "Throw her down!"  By the wisdom and discernment of God's word Christians are called in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to be "...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...".  As born again followers of Jesus who is our life, our call is to live to please Him.  This means casting down all the ways and wisdom of the world God calls foolishness, and to joyfully entrust ourselves to His loving care.

There is freedom in the body of Christ to have different views about the use of an electric or gas range; there is freedom to have opinions whether a council should make sweeping laws with a desire to avoid being on the "wrong side of history."  But when it comes to living to please people, ourselves, or our LORD, Jesus made it clear where our priorities should lie:  that we ought to live worthy of Christ by following His example, sincerely obeying God from the heart in the fear of God.  We are not worthy, but by faith and obedience to Christ we can live in a worthy manner that fully pleases God, being fruitful in every work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).  Being on God's side ought to be our priority.